Claiming victory in the Waukegan Democratic primary, former Mayor Sam Cunningham enters a four-way race for the city’s top job against incumbent Mayor Ann Taylor — who unseated him four years ago — Ald. Keith Turner, 6th Ward, and former Ald. Harold Beadling, 4th Ward.
Cunningham’s performance was one of four contests for Democratic nominations in Waukegan and North Chicago, with two setting the stage for the April 1 general election for mayor in both cities, and two others putting unopposed candidates on the April ballot.
Cunningham claimed victory over Miguel A. Rivera Sr. Tuesday in Waukegan with 74.82% of 2,208 votes cast to Rivera’s 25.18%, according to unofficial results posted on the Lake County Clerk’s Office’s website.
When he started his campaign to become mayor again, Cunningham said he had unfinished business. He said his goal is to “rebuild Waukegan.” Running against two independents and a Republican, he feels his chances are good in a four-way race.
“This is a Democratic town and that momentum will carry me into the general election,” Cunningham said. “We need a leader who can carry us through challenging times as well as good times.”
High on his agenda is the development of the city’s downtown and lakefront. He wants to see the Waukegan Municipal Beach area become a “Navy Pier North.” With the city now in a solid financial position, the time is right, he said.
Taylor takes credit for what she considers the city’s good financial condition. In her four years in office, she said her administration has balanced the budget for four consecutive years without raising property taxes.
“Why didn’t he do it in his four years,” Taylor said of Cunningham. “We’ve done it. This is the best (financial) shape for the city in 45 years. This is how you attract developers. They want to see financial stability or they run away.”
Turner said all four candidates for mayor are different, giving voters a clear choice. He wants to install more transparency in city government and make Waukegan a business-friendly community.
“I want to make it easier to do business with the city of Waukegan,” Turner said. “I want to make it easier to get licenses and permits. I want to make it easier for someone to start a business or expand a business.”
Beadling, who was unopposed in the Republican primary, served on the City Council from 2011 to 2015. He also wants to see more transparency in city government. Safety is a key issue for him.
“I’m sick and tired of hearing shots fired,” Beadling said. “I hear them at my house. They make an arrest and the felons are back on the street. We’re going to keep track of the plea deals that put them back out there.”
Waukegan City Treasurer John R. Schwab was leading challenger Gene M. Decker with 74.82% of 2,127 votes cast to Decker’s 25.28%. Schwab will be unopposed in the April 1 election.
North Chicago Mayor Leon Rockingham Jr., said he is confident his nearly 15-percentage-point lead over Ald. Kenneth Smith, 5th Ward, cannot be overcome from the remaining uncounted vote-by-mail ballots. He will wait until all tabulations are done to claim victory.
Seeking his sixth term, Rockingham will likely face two independent candidates in April. They are Anthony Coleman, 2nd Ward, and David Hood, a security guard in Waukegan Community Unit School District 60. Rockingham is leading with 57.22% of the 956 votes counted to Smith’s 42.78%.
“I feel real good right now,” Rockingham said. “We’ll get the team back together and campaign hard for the next five weeks.”
In the primary for the Democratic nomination for the 5th Ward North Chicago City Council seat, Tabitha Ann Wray collected 54.69% of the 256 votes cast to 32.4% for Kingston G. Neal, and 12.89% for Jerry L. Gray. She will likely be unopposed in the April 1 contest.
Total turnout in Waukegan and North Chicago was 6.44%, with 3,223 votes cast out of 50.059 registered voters, according to the clerk’s website.
The last time there was a four-way contest for mayor of Waukegan was 2001, and six votes separated former Mayor Dan Drew from second-place finisher Newton Finn. Of 10.494 votes cast, Drew had 42.99%, Finn 42.93%, Jack Potter 11.01% and Margaret Carrasco 2.94%. Write-in candidates accounted for the remaining 0.13%, according to the clerk’s records.
